What were general duties?

Rain Xiang Mountain was a towering behemoth within the Zheng Kingdom, and even Jiang Yang had no idea of the full extent of its lands.

Just a single peak was vast and sprawling, soaring into the clouds. Lowly disciples like them had no means of riding clouds or commanding the wind, and relied almost entirely on Spell Arts that made them light on their feet to get around. Thus, for the past few years, Jiang Yang had done little more than circle within Falling Rain Peak's bounds.

Now that he was descending the mountain, everything felt fresh and new. The youth's robes fluttered as he darted along the mountain path like the fleeting shadow of a startled swan, admiring the scenery while making his way carefully downhill.

The sky was clear, the earth serene, and the boundless blue heavens shone upon Dew-Covered Lake below, its mirrorlike surface a smoky azure where water and sky became one.

As the saying went, without seeing heaven and earth, one could never know how small one was. Jiang Yang pushed off a jumble of rocks, his figure rising and falling as he sighed in wonder:

"It's gorgeous. If only I could fly..."

But the last time he had flown was aboard a sect Mystic Artifact when he first joined. Back then, it had been like sailing through a sea of mist, with thick clouds obscuring the full view. It had never felt quite satisfying enough.

“But... there'll be a chance.” Jiang Yang smiled brightly, his heart brimming with anticipation.

Falling Rain Peak and Morning Rain Peak were not far apart. After descending the mountain, Jiang Yang reached his destination in barely the time it took to drink a cup of tea—a quick journey, considering the rugged paths.

Along the way, he passed a market bustling with people. Despite the itch of curiosity in his heart, Jiang Yang restrained himself and did not go over.

The priority now was to report to Morning Rain Peak and settle on a place to live and cultivate. The market would not sprout legs and run away; he could come back whenever he wanted to explore it.

Morning Rain Peak.

New to the place and unfamiliar with his surroundings, Jiang Yang had no choice but to stop an inner sect senior brother and ask for directions.

Fortunately, this senior brother in blue robes had encountered newly promoted disciples before, and pointed Jiang Yang toward his destination without surprise.

After cupping his hands in thanks, Jiang Yang headed straight uphill to the Enrollment Registry, where newly promoted disciples reported.

Upon entering the hall, he saw a middle-aged man with regular, well-proportioned features seated at its head, studying a scroll of Daoist writings. He seemed so absorbed that he had not even noticed someone coming in.

The hall was quiet, with no one else present, so Jiang Yang spoke softly:

"Are you the registrar, martial uncle?"

The middle-aged man set down his scroll at the question. Showing no displeasure at the interruption, he stroked his beard and looked up.

“I am the Registrar. Who are you?”

Jiang Yang bowed respectfully and replied:

“This disciple was a child novice in Falling Rain Peak's Lower Court. Having fortunately been promoted to an initiated disciple today, I have come to report to Morning Rain Peak.”

"Oh..."

The middle-aged man acknowledged him, then said briskly:

"A new disciple, then. Hand over your waist token!"

“Yes.” Jiang Yang untied his waist token, stepped forward, and presented it.

The Registrar took the token and flicked a ray of clear light from his finger. He swiftly verified it and handed it back.

Jiang Yang took it back and fastened it at his waist again, then heard the Registrar speak in an unhurried voice:

“Although full disciples are not entitled to choose a site and establish a Cave Abode, neither must you live together in tiled quarters as you did in the Lower Court. Let me check which residences are still vacant. Do you have any preferences?”

Jiang Yang had not expected the Registrar Martial Uncle to ask his opinion. He had assumed he would simply be assigned somewhere, never imagining that he would even be allowed to make a request.

But he knew little about Morning Rain Peak. After a moment's thought, Jiang Yang replied respectfully:

“It is merely a place to shelter myself. What difference is there between a Cave Abode and tiled quarters? This disciple asks for nothing, save an abundance of Spirit Vigor...”

At that, the Registrar chuckled and pointed at Jiang Yang.

"A clever one, aren't you? But I cannot grant that request. The formation seals everything in, distributing Spirit Vigor evenly. No place has more or less than another."

Seeing his little scheme fall through, Jiang Yang took no offense. An even distribution of Spirit Vigor meant everywhere was the same, making the choice matter even less. He said directly:

"Then sorry for the trouble, Martial Uncle Si, but please choose one for this disciple."

The words had barely left his mouth when the Registrar Martial Uncle's expression stiffened. Then he said irritably:

"You young fellow, what nonsense!"

“What do you mean, Martial Uncle Si? My surname isn't Si, it's Xie. My name is Xie, and Registrar is merely my position in the Enrollment Registry. Who addresses someone like that?”

Jiang Yang's face flushed with embarrassment. The senior brother who had given him directions had only told him to find the Registrar Martial Uncle, and he had mistaken the title for a name. How could he have known?

The embarrassment lingered on the youth's face for only a moment before he hastily bowed in apology:

"This... this disciple is ignorant and ill-informed, and has made a fool of himself. Please forgive me, Martial Uncle Xie."

Seeing that the youth's features were as clear and open as a fresh breeze beneath a bright moon, his bow graceful and his words sincere, Martial Uncle Xie decided he had not been deliberately teasing him. He let the matter drop and waved a hand.

"Never mind, never mind. Those who do not know are not to blame. Stand up."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle Xie." Jiang Yang bowed again.

To Xie Zhiyan, the words somehow sounded stranger the more he listened. He hastily swept two fingers through the air, sending out a brilliant ray of light, assigned a courtyard in a particular location, and dismissed him:

“All right, all right, off you go. Your assigned location has been recorded in your waist token. You can check it with your Spirit Sense.”

“Oh, and don't forget to collect your general duties from the General Affairs Office. Fail to do so within three months, and you'll still have to perform them, with your stipend docked on top of it.”

“Yes. Thank you... Uncle-Master Xie.” Jiang Yang said no more and slowly withdrew.

Only after leaving the Enrollment Registry did Jiang Yang scratch his head to ease his embarrassment. Fortunately, this upright-looking Martial Uncle Xie had a decent temper and had not held it against him.

Taking out his waist token, Jiang Yang sent a thread of Spirit Sense into it. A miniature map appeared in his sea of consciousness, with a starlike point of light flickering on and off. Clearly, that marked his assigned Cave Abode.

Jiang Yang hefted the token in his hand and smiled.

"Being a full disciple really is nice. My own courtyard and entrance... peace and quiet, and no need to compete with anyone for Spirit Vigor."

Cultivation was a deeply private matter that demanded space. In the Lower Court, the blue-brick, tiled quarters had individual entrances, but stood in connected rows. If another disciple made a little too much noise turning over or getting up at night, he could hear everything through the wall. There had been little privacy to speak of, let alone a decent concentration of Spirit Vigor.

"Since I'm here, I might as well ask about the general duties."

The General Affairs Office stood immediately to the right of the Enrollment Registry. In no hurry to visit his new home, Jiang Yang turned and walked over.

Compared with the deserted Enrollment Registry, the General Affairs Office was much livelier, with disciples coming and going in twos and threes.

Everywhere he looked were inner sect disciples in clear blue robes, no different from Jiang Yang himself.

Passing through the hall and into the office, he found four or five people gathered together, talking.

The main seat at the head of the room was empty, and all the disciples had gathered to one side. Naturally, Jiang Yang approached them, waited for a pause, then cupped his hands and asked:

"May I ask which of you is the martial uncle serving as affairs officer?"

Having just made one blunder, Jiang Yang was much more careful with his words this time.

The young man seated to the side looked to be in his twenties, with thick brows, large eyes, a round face, and broad ears. Hearing the question, he hurriedly looked up and returned the greeting:

"I wouldn't presume to be your martial uncle. Martial Uncle Lin, the affairs officer, has gone into seclusion and asked me to fill in for a while. Just call me Senior Brother Zhou."

"May I ask whether you've come to collect a duty assignment or report its completion, junior brother?"

Jiang Yang readily adjusted his address. "Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother Zhou. I'm here to collect one."

"Then please wait a moment. These junior brothers arrived first to report their completed duties. Wait to the side for a little while."

With that, Senior Brother Zhou turned his hand over, producing a Daoist booklet, and handed it to Jiang Yang as he continued:

"You can look through the duties listed here, junior brother. If any appeal to you, let me know in a moment."

Jiang Yang accepted the illustrated booklet and replied:

"It's no trouble. Don't worry about me, senior brother. Please go ahead."

With the booklet in hand, Jiang Yang gently opened it, thinking to himself:

This good? I get to choose these too?